EMI Shielding
Technical Guide

EMI Shielding Fundamentals

Understanding electromagnetic interference and effective shielding strategies for modern facilities.

What is EMI?

Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) is the disruption of normal operation of electronic equipment when exposed to electromagnetic energy. EMI can cause equipment malfunction, data corruption, or complete system failure.

EMI affects virtually every electronic system, from smartphones to military installations. Understanding EMI is essential for designing effective shielding solutions.

EMI Sources

Natural Sources

  • • Lightning discharges
  • • Solar flares and sunspots
  • • Cosmic background radiation
  • • Static electricity

Man-Made Sources

  • • Mobile phones and towers
  • • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices
  • • Power lines and utilities
  • • Industrial equipment

Shielding Effectiveness

Shielding effectiveness is measured in decibels (dB) and represents the ratio of signal strength outside versus inside the shield.

dB Rating Attenuation Typical Application
40 dB 99.99% Commercial electronics
60 dB 99.9999% Medical devices
80 dB 99.999999% SCIFs, secure facilities
100 dB 99.99999999% Defense, military

Shielding Materials

Copper

Excellent conductivity, 100+ dB attenuation, ideal for RF shielding

Aluminum

Lightweight, cost-effective, good for general purpose shielding

Mu Metal

High permeability, best for low-frequency magnetic fields

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